Getting Into The Music & A Curb Your Enthusiasm Moment

We went to Molly Malone's last night to see our friend Fred play keyboard with Philip Sayce. You know what I love about this band? They all get so into it. Even the drummer, Mike Leasure - who was great, by the way - sang his heart out. I don't usually see that. It was all pure passion for the music... something that all too often is missing, at least on the radio, these days.

There were four of us standing in a clump outside of Molly Malones: My
husband, me, a friend (who will go by name “concerned friend”) and another
friend (a very serious, stoic, no-nonsense record producer). Only moments before, the producer was talking
to my husband about some audio gear... maybe some sort of meter.

Our concerned friend stops whatever conversation is taking place to ask the
record producer a question.

Concerned Friend: Hey, what about what happened to (80's rock star), huh?

Stoic Record Producer: What?

C.F: Uh, you don't know?

Stoic RP shakes his head.

C.F: You just worked with (80's rock star) didn't you?

Stoic RP: Yes, but I don't keep tabs on him.

C.F: Well, uh, he's... he's...uuhhhhmmm

The concerned friend, so concerned this news will shake up the record
producer, hesitates to tell him. He entered the conversation thinking the record producer had surely heard.

I nudge the C.F's arm to say it already.

C.F: Um... he's... no longer with us.

Stoic RP remains expressionless.

C.F: He's no longer alive. Dead.

Stoic RP says nothing. His expression doesn't change. He then turns to my
husband and continues talking about meters. "So what were you saying about..."

The concerned friend seemed certain the friend/record producer would need to
be consoled - might even buckle at the knees upon hearing the news. The build up to the punchline left me anticipating some sort
of reaction from the record producer. But no. Nothing. He was
more concerned with meters. It was such an odd moment. My husband and I both wanted to laugh. But it seemed so wrong.